Entrapment device



Oct. 4, 1932. w. KINDEL 1,880,258

ENTRAPMENT DEVICE Filed March 10. 1952 Patented Get. 4, 1932 VJILLIAM N. KINDEL, OF SAN FRANCISCO,

CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR 'IO JOHN F. MEYER,

OF PASADENA, CALIFORNIA ENTRAPMEN'I' DEVICE Application filed March 10, 1932. Serial No. 597,930.

This invention relates to entrapment devices and more particularly to entrapment devices especially adapted for use in connection with vending machines and the like.

Vending machines of the kind employed in dispensing candy, nuts and other small articles are provided with a discharge chute terminating in a tray whereat the articles come to rest and from which they are removed by the operator of the machine. To facilitate removal of the dispensed articles from the tray, the rim thereof is restricted and often, when the articles are being removed, some spill upon the floor and this is objectionable in that a part of the dispensed articles are lost and also it tends to create an unsightly appearance around the machine. It is therefore one of the objects of my invention to provide a novel entrapment device adapted for .2 use with the tray of a vending machine to collect any articles spilling from the tray or the hand of the operator of the machine at the time the dispensed articles are discharged into the tray or are being removed therefrom.

A further object of the invention is to provide an entrapment device which may be pivoted from entrapping position to facilitate removal of any articles collected therein.

- a tray 6 having A selected embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing and therein Fig. 1 is a front elevational view in which certain parts are broken away; and

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

In the drawing, 3 indicates a vending machine having a discharge chute 4 leading through an opening 5 in the machine frame to a flange 7 about the edges thereof projecting beyond the machine wall. Articles dispensed by the vending machine pass down through the chute 4 and are collected in the tray 6 from whence they are removed by hand. The flange 7 is of re stricted size to facilitate removal of the dispensed articles, and to prevent articles passing into the tray from spilling onto the floor either at the time the articles move into the tray or at the time they are being removed 6 and the top side of the cup is open to afford 2. access to the tray. A plate 9 is provided.

at the lower inner edge of the cup and this plate extends parallel to but in spaced relation with the wall of the machine and insures retention of the articles collected in the cup. At the lower corners of the cup 8 are trunnions 1O journaled in bearings 11 secured to the wall of the machine 3. Each of these hearings includes a pocket 12 at the end thereof adjacent the cup 8 and mounted in each of these pockets 12 is a spring 13 having one end portion 14 fixed in the bearing andthe other end portion 15 fixed in the shaft. The cup 8 is pivoted on the trunnions 10 and may be moved into the dotted line position of Fig. 2 to facilitate removal of any articles collected therein. Normally, however, the springs 13 hold the cup in the full line position of Fig. 2 whereat the cup so surrounds the tray 6 that it will collect any articles falling therefrom.

My novel entrapment device prevents articles spilling onto the floor at the time they they are discharged into the tray of a vending machine and it also collects any articles falling from the hand or the tray as the articles are being removed from the tray and any articles falling into my entrapment device may be removed easily therefrom by pivoting it from normal position into the position whereif] at the removal of the articles is expedited.

While I have illustrated and described a selected embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that this is capable of variation and modification and I therefore do not wish to be limited to the precise details set forth but desire to avail myself of such changes and alterations as fall within the purview of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a vending machine, a tray adapted to receive the articles to be vended, and a cup surrounding said tray and having an open side affording access to said tray to permit removal of the articles therefrom, said cup serving as an entrapment device to collect articles spilled from said tray.

2. In a vending machine, a tray adapted to receive the articles to be vended, a cup surrounding said tray and having an open side affording; access to said tray to permit removal of th articles therefrom, said cup serving as an entrapment device to collect articles spilled from said tray, and means supporting said cup for movement to and from entrapment position whereby said cup may be moved from entrapment position to facilitate removal therefrom of articles entrapped therein.

3. In a vending machine a tray adapted to receive the articles to be vended, a cup surrounding said tray and having an open side affording access to said tray to permit removal of the articles therefrom, said cup servingas an entrapment-device to collect articles v spilled from said tray, means supportin g said cup for movement to and from entrapment position whereby said cup may be moved from entrapment position to facilitate removal therefrom-of articles entrapped theres in, and yieldable means holding said cup in entrapment position.

4. In a vending machine including a tray into which the vended articles are discharged When the machine is operated, a cup pivotally mounted on said machine and surrounding said tray and having an open side affording access to .said tray to permit removal of the vended articles from the tray, means pivotally mounting .said cup to permit movement thereof away from said tray, and yieldable means normally holdingsaid-cup in position about said tray.

7 WILLIAM N. KINDEL. 

